Pathfinders: best blogs, Instagram shots and videos from February 2019

As always, our colorful crew of ever more adventurous Pathfinder explored the remotest corners of the world. This month we are taking a cool and unconventional look – whether it's a new and unusual perspective on well-traveled destinations like London or exploring less-visited (and somewhat bizarre) cities and regions like Užupis in Lithuania.

Best of the blogs

Maybe you were already in Paris and Rome, maybe even Minskbut it is a European destination that you probably have not included in your travel list. Užupis is a tiny, renegade "republic" (complete with its own constitution, currency and ambassador – who is actually a cat) in the heart of Vilnius, Lithuania, and in this post Dave documents his day exploring the quirky neighborhood. It's all a bit of fun, and Dave's observations make for entertaining, carefree reading, but there's also a deeper satisfaction in knowing that even in the age of global homogenization, there are still such special places – and that's worth celebrating

Dave is a Yorkshire man looking to see and photograph as much of the world as possible. See more of his work manvsglobe.com,

It is the overall aesthetics of this entry that has successfully captured our intrigues: saturated images of sweeping landscapes and fancy ceramics piercing a thin strip of text that focuses on a less-visited art city in Berlin Japan – everything feels very cool This can not hurt Anja's writer – she tells an interesting story about her passion for pottery in the village of Shigaraki and the story thanks to the presence of ninjas, a wonderfully welcoming host and, of course, karaoke on the go.

Anja is a writer and photographer who believes slow travel is the way forward and shuns the crowds (though she'll be waiting in line for good food). Read more below themintstory.com,

Top Instagram shots

Why we like it: The Tate Modern gallery in London is no stranger to an Instagram feature, but Romi's setting of the building's viewing level is fresh, deliberate and extremely effective. The angle of inclination of the structure provides the perfect balance for the image, dividing it naturally into two parts and pulling the eye over the image. The speckled shades of the sky blend in beautifully with the textured brickwork, creating a delicate color palette that spans the entire frame. This is a truly original version of a famous landmark of the city.

Romi is an aspiring photographer, constantly on the lookout for her next perfect frame. Follow her on Instagram @romiaround,

Why we like it: Images of ocean drones can open up a whole new perspective on a picturesque coastline, and Xavier's picture is a prime example of this. The contrast between the rocky texture of the shallows and the turquoise coloration and the white sand beaches, which are covered with blue boats, creates a vertical center and draws the viewer's attention from top to bottom. This is a well-designed, expertly recorded recording that we would like to stare for hours at!

Xavier is a full-time backpacker who has been on the road for 15 months. Follow him on Instagram @ xaviermarchal,

Our favorite material

Why we like it: Apart from Mark's incredible footage, which includes flowing aerial photography, close-ups of people and smiling faces, and dynamic point-of-view shots, we loved this video because it really matters. Without much to say, he manages to paint a complete picture of the travel experience, from fulfilling your dreams to skyping your parents to connecting with friends. We believe this video combines inspiration with pure emotion and answers the question "Why do we travel" for many people.

Mark is a photographer, videographer and creative director in Paris. Watch more videos his YouTube channel,

Find out what else the Lonely Planet Pathfinder does in the Pathfinder forum thorn tree,